Multi-isotope analysis of mammal bones provides environmental context for the adoption of agriculture in the Tehuacan Valley of Mexico

Understanding the environmental context in which agriculture emerged
requires proxy records that capture local ecological conditions through
time, yet long-term datasets from archaeologically well-dated contexts
remain limited. We generated stable isotope measurements from
archaeological faunal remains spanning the Late Pleistocene through Late
Holocene sequence of the Tehuacan Valley of Puebla, Mexico, including deer
(Odocoileus virginianus) and rabbit (Sylvilagus spp.) specimens recovered
from multiple sites and cultural phases within the valley. The dataset
includes δ13C and δ18O values from bone bioapatite and δ13C and δ15N
values from bone collagen, together with specimen metadata, archaeological
context information, and indicators of skeletal preservation and
diagenesis used to assess data quality. To facilitate interpretation and
reproducibility, the repository also contains analytical workflows used to
evaluate temporal variation in isotope values, including generalized
additive modeling and a Bayesian stable isotope mixing approach used to
estimate environmental composition through time. Reference isotope values
for modeled environmental categories are provided to support replication
and comparative applications. The data document temporal variation in
vegetation structure and moisture conditions across major cultural
transitions in the region and provide a comparative baseline for
paleoenvironmental reconstruction and zooarchaeological research in other
archaeological and ecological settings. All specimens derive from curated
collections in Mexico that were analyzed with appropriate institutional
permissions, and no sensitive information is included.